# AI use cases for Openclip (ganeshmshetty/openclip) Repo: [ganeshmshetty/openclip](https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip) | Use cases: 4 | Page: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/ OpenClip is an open-source macOS app that shows a text action popup for running scripts, AI actions, and extensions on selected text. This file holds every use case of this repo. Each one starts with a "## " heading and ends with its URL. - Transform selected text in any macOS app: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/transform-selected-text-anywhere/ - Run AI actions on selected text with local or API models: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/run-ai-actions-on-selected-text/ - Add a custom URL lookup action to the popup: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/add-custom-url-lookup-action/ - Build and test OpenClip from source: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/build-openclip-from-source/ ## How to transform selected text in any macOS app with Openclip Repo: [ganeshmshetty/openclip](https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip) | Difficulty: Beginner | Time: 15 minutes | Basis: From the README Select text anywhere on macOS and pick a case change, search, math, or custom action from the popup. **Who it is for:** A writer, support agent, or developer on a Mac who edits text in many apps and wants quick actions without copy and paste. **The problem:** Changing case, searching, or running small text operations means copying text into another tool first. **The outcome:** Selected text is transformed or searched in place, from a popup that appears near the selection. ### Steps 1. Install OpenClip with `brew install --cask openclip`. 2. Open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then Accessibility, and allow OpenClip. 3. Select some text in any app and wait for the contextual bar to appear near the selection. 4. Pick an action such as case transform, search, copy/cut, or math from the bar. 5. Press `⌥⌘C` to open the search palette and fuzzy search the full action catalog. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Using the OpenClip repo at https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip, install the app with `brew install --cask openclip` and confirm Accessibility permission is granted. Select in a text editor and report which actions the contextual bar shows. Verify that a case transform action is listed. ``` ### Caveat OpenClip needs Accessibility permission to detect selected text, as the README notes it does this without relying on clipboard polling. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/transform-selected-text-anywhere/ ## How to run AI actions on selected text with local or API models with Openclip Repo: [ganeshmshetty/openclip](https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 30 minutes | Basis: From the README Send selected text to a local Ollama model, Apple Intelligence, or an OpenAI or Anthropic key from the popup. **Who it is for:** A user who wants summaries or rewrites of selected text and needs to decide where that text is allowed to go. **The problem:** Getting AI help on text usually means copying it into a chat window and pasting the answer back. **The outcome:** AI actions run from the popup on the text you selected, using the provider you chose. ### Steps 1. Install OpenClip with `brew install --cask openclip` and grant it Accessibility permission. 2. Choose a provider: a local Ollama model, Apple Intelligence, or an OpenAI or Anthropic key. 3. If you use a cloud provider, add your own OpenAI or Anthropic key in OpenClip. 4. Select text in any app and pick an AI action from the contextual bar. 5. Check which provider handled the request before you send sensitive text. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Using the OpenClip repo at https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip, configure one AI provider named and run an AI action on the selected text from the contextual bar. Expected output: a model response for that text shown in the popup. Verify that only the provider you chose is configured. ``` ### Caveat The README calls OpenClip privacy-first with 100% local execution, but cloud keys send selected text to that provider, so use a local model for private text. Risk, credentials: Cloud use needs your own OpenAI or Anthropic key, so keep that key private and do not paste it into shared notes or logs. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/run-ai-actions-on-selected-text/ ## How to add a custom URL lookup action to the popup with Openclip Repo: [ganeshmshetty/openclip](https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 15 minutes | Basis: From the README Create an extension folder with one Openclip.json file that sends selected text to a search URL. **Who it is for:** A researcher or analyst who looks up selected terms on the same reference site over and over. **The problem:** Looking up each selected term on a reference site means copying it, opening a browser, and pasting it into the search box. **The outcome:** A Lookup action appears in the popup and opens the reference site search for the selected text. ### Steps 1. Run `mkdir -p ~/.openclip/extensions/com.example.lookup` to create the extension folder. (inferred, check the README) 2. Create `openclip.json` in that folder with an identifier, a name, and an actions list. 3. Give the action `"type": "url"` and a url value that contains `{query}`. 4. Select text in any app and choose the new Lookup action from the contextual bar. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text In the OpenClip repo at https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip, create ~/.openclip/extensions//openclip.json with one url action whose url contains {query}. Expected output: the file exists and is valid JSON, and the action appears in the popup for selected text. Verify the JSON parses before testing it in the popup. ``` ### Caveat The README shows the format only for a URL action, so shell, JavaScript, or AppleScript extensions need the developer guide linked from the README. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/add-custom-url-lookup-action/ ## How to build and test OpenClip from source with Openclip Repo: [ganeshmshetty/openclip](https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip) | Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 60 minutes | Basis: From the README Clone the Swift project, generate the Xcode project, and run the dev and test scripts. **Who it is for:** A macOS developer who wants to change OpenClip or check a fork before relying on it. **The problem:** A developer needs a working local build before making changes to the app. **The outcome:** The app builds and runs locally, and the test script finishes. ### Steps 1. Install XcodeGen with `brew install xcodegen`. The README requires macOS 14+ and Xcode 16+. 2. Clone the repo with `git clone https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip.git` and enter it with `cd openclip`. 3. Generate the Xcode project with `xcodegen generate`. 4. Build and run with `./scripts/dev_run.sh`, then run tests with `./scripts/test.sh`. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Clone https://github.com/ganeshmshetty/openclip on a Mac with macOS 14+ and Xcode 16+, run `xcodegen generate`, then run `./scripts/test.sh`. Expected output: the test script completes and reports its result. Verify the exit status is zero before reporting success. ``` ### Caveat The README does not say what the test script covers, so a passing run does not confirm every feature works. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/ganeshmshetty-openclip/build-openclip-from-source/